A research analyst with the Centre for Democracy and Development, Dengiyefa Angalapu, has warned that the decision to remove certificate forgery as a ground for filing election petitions in the amended Electoral Act 2026 could weaken accountability in Nigeria’s electoral system.

Section 138 of the Electoral Act 2026 states the conditions under which an election can be contested, but certificate forgery is no longer listed as one of those grounds.

Angalapu faulted the development in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Tuesday.

According to him, the change is troubling because the credibility of elections should not only depend on how votes are cast but also on the integrity of the candidates contesting for public office.

“I see this amendment as troubling because the credibility of elections is not only about how votes are cast but also about the integrity of the candidates contesting,” he said.

According to him, allegations of certificate forgery directly raise questions about a candidate’s honesty and eligibility to hold public office.

“Certificate forgery goes directly to the issue of honesty and eligibility for public office,” Angalapu stated.

He explained that removing it as a ground for election petitions could weaken an important mechanism used to scrutinise candidates and promote transparency in the electoral process.

“Removing it as a ground for election petitions risks weakening an important mechanism for scrutinizing candidates and ensuring transparency in Nigeria’s electoral process,” he said.

The researcher further noted that the amendment could reduce accountability because election petitions remain one of the key avenues through which citizens and political actors challenge irregularities after elections.

“Yes, there is a risk that it could weaken accountability. Election petitions are one of the key ways citizens and political actors challenge irregularities after elections,” he said.

Angalapu warned that if issues like certificate forgery cannot be raised during election petitions, scrutiny over candidates’ claims and qualifications may reduce.

“If issues like certificate forgery cannot be raised in that process, it may reduce scrutiny over candidates’ claims and qualifications,” he added.

He also cautioned that the long-term effect of the amendment could be a decline in public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.

“In the long run, this could erode trust in the electoral system if people feel that standards for those seeking public office are being lowered,” Angalapu said.

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